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Analysis and comments on I cannot dance upon my Toes by Emily Dickinson

Comment 1 of 1, added on December 10th, 2009 at 9:37 PM.
Thoughts

In the first stanza, Dickinson is expressing how she cannot do something
that she has not been taught ("No man instructed me-") She cannot help
thinking the way she does.

The next three stanzas uses imagery to describe attire and movements
typical for a ballerina. Dickisnon is saying that if she had been taught
what she referred to in the first stanza, she would outdo all others of her
kind. Even without putting in any real effort on her part, she would still
be admired by her public.

Presently, even though she's not appreciated for her art (poetry), even
though she's not popular (boasted by placards) she's still better at what
she does than others.

Even though she refers to Ballet, she's talking about her poetry and
responding to the criticism she received.

Melissa from United States

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Information about I cannot dance upon my Toes

Poet: Emily Dickinson
Poem: 326. I cannot dance upon my Toes
Volume: Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson
Year: 1955
Added: Jan 9 2004
Viewed: 15231 times


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By: Emily Dickinson

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